Plymouth Commercial Car

Plymouth
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Commercial Car
Production period:	1937-1941
Class :	upper middle class
Body versions :	Limousine , station wagon , panel van , pickup
Engines:	Petrol engines : 3.3-3.4 liters (51-58 kW)
Length:
Width:
Height:
Wheelbase :	2946 mm
Empty weight :	1178-1268 kg
Previous model	Plymouth Business

The Plymouth Commercial Car was a delivery van that Chrysler manufactured under the brand name Plymouth in the 1937-1941 model years. It was derived from the Dodge delivery van and offered Plymouth dealers who did not sell the Dodge brand the opportunity to offer their customers a delivery van for small businesses. The Commercial Car replaced the delivery van variants of the Plymouth Business .

Year by year

Model PT50 (1937)

The PT50 model was developed from the Dodge van. Like the Dodge, it ran on a small truck chassis, but its structure had been adapted to the Plymouth business. Because of the technical differences, there were no identical parts with the car models. At 2,946 mm, the wheelbase was 4 inches longer than that of a car, the clutch had a larger diameter and the engine was somewhat weaker: the side-controlled in-line six-cylinder also had a displacement of 3,299 cm³, but it only achieved 70 bhp (51 kW) at 3,000 / min.

In addition to a chassis with a cabin (for customer-specific superstructures), there was a two-door sedan (without a rear seat), a two-door pickup (flatbed) and a three-door station wagon. 14,725 pieces were made between December 1936 and August 1937.

Model PT57 (1938)

In the following year, there were only minor stylistic changes to adapt the commercial car to the appearance of the new P5 and P6 car models (for example, more voluminous front fenders that reach further forward). Technically nothing was changed, only the station wagon was dropped.

As with cars, significantly fewer vehicles were sold this year than in the previous year. Only 6,316 commercial cars were built between September 1937 and August 1938.

Model PT81 (1939)

Like the car models, the commercial car has been completely redesigned. Its appearance was now more like that of the corresponding Dodge models. The engine and drive remained the same, the sedan without a rear seat was no longer available. In return, the pick-up version was given a driver's cab for three people and the spare wheel moved from the front of the vehicle under the flatbed. The doors were given a double lock so that they could not open by themselves on a bad road surface.

However, the sales figures could not be increased significantly: In this model year 6,321 commercial cars were built.

Model PT105 (1940)

Again, there were few changes; the most noticeable was the introduction of the "sealed beam" headlights. However, the vehicles were now given more powerful engines, which drew 79 bhp (58 kW) at 3,000 rpm from a displacement of 3,441 cm³.

7,035 units were sold in this model year.

Model PT125 (1941)

The 1941 models were still based on the bodies from 1939. However, the grille was changed and the main headlights moved up and out and perched above the grille. This gave the vehicles a bit of the look of frogs. The sales prices were increased significantly.

Nevertheless, 6,269 copies were produced in this last sales year. Due to the war, the commercial car disappeared from the model range and it was not until 1974 that Plymouth should offer a delivery van again with the Trailduster .

source

• Beverly R. Kimes, Henry A. Clark: Standard Catalog of American Cars 1805-1942. Krause Publications, Iola 1985, ISBN 0-87341-045-9 .